Machine for working fine gold



Jun 5, 1934. NQTT|NGHAM 1,961,428

MACHINE FOR WORKING FINE GOLD Filed Sept. 14, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet l la A5 Invenior U. H Noih'nyham flllorney June 5, 1934. u. NOTTINGHAM 1,961,428

MACHINE FOR WORKING FINE GOLD Filed Sept. 14, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 lnvenlor 4 U. H. zvomn ham pmm flllorney June 5, 1934. H, NOTTINGHAM 1,961,428

MACHINE FOR WORKING FINE GOLD 7 Filed Sept. 14, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Invcnir U. H. Noiiinyham June 1934. u. H. NOTTINGHAM 1,961,428

MACHINE FOR WORKING FINE GOLD Filed Sept. 14, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 l'nvnlor U H.1Yoiiz n7ham pmm f1 Ilorney Patented June 5, 1934 Ulysses H. Nottingham, Bearcreek, Mont.

Application September 14,1933, Serial No. 689,472,

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to a machine it simple and inexpensive to manufacture and thoroughly eflicient and reliable in use and operation.

Another important object of the invention resides in the provision of a machine of this nature using a mercury pan and providing means whereby the mixture of sand, gravel and gold is injected in the mercury at the bottom of the pan.

With the above and numerous other objects in view as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, and in the combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying the features of my invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 44 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings in detail it will be seen that the character F denotes suitable framework for supporting the sides of the machine as hereinafter described. A shaft 5 is journalled across the top of the frame and is rotatable by suitable belt and pulley means 6. Hubs 7 are fixed to the shaft and have spokes 8 radiating therefrom and the ends of the spokes are connected by rings 9 across which are angle iron cleats 10. A foraminous drum 11 is mounted on the framework formed by the spokes 8 and the rings 9 and tapers toward one end. A funnel 12 is fixed to and extends outwardly from said end and into this funnel projects a trough 14. A tapering end 15 is provided on the other end of the drum and has attached thereto an outwardly flaring funnel 16 leading into an inclined trough 17 to take off the coarse material.

A pan 18 is mounted in the framework F under the drum and is disposed concentrically therewith and from one side there inclines downward- .ly a trough 19 into the upwardly flared end 20 on a vertical tube 21 fixed stationarily in theframework F by suitable brackets 22. On the lower end of this stationary tube there is an outwardly extending annular flange 23 located in the bottom portion of mercury pan P. This merwall 24, a bottom 25, and an outwardly and downwardly inclined annular flange 26 on theupper edge thereof. The inner surface of the wall 24 is provided with a plurality of ribs 26 which extend over the upper surface of the flange 26 as is clearly illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. A cylindrical skirt 28 is used for supporting the mercury pan on the framework F.

A tube 30 is rotatable about the lower portion of the tube 21 and is formed on its lower end with a bearing casing 31 surrounding the flange 23 and the center of the bottom portion of this bearing casing has an opening 32. The tube 21 is perforated in the lower portion as at 33 and the tube 30 is perforated likewise. A beveled gear 34. is formed on the upper end of the rotatable tube 30 and meshes with a beveled pinion 35 on a shaft 36operative1y connected by suitable bearings 3'7 with the belt and pulley drive mechanism. A trough 39 extends about the skirt 28 under the flange 26 and merges into the outlet portion 40. This trough is inclined. With the machine in operation the sand and gravel are placed in the chute 14 to gravitate into the drum. Water is maintained in the water pan 18. The coarser particles of the mixture, exit through the funnel 16 and the chute 1'7. The mixture which passes through the mesh of the foraminous drum into the pan l8 overflows into the chute 19, the funnel 20 and gravitates down the stationary tubes 21 and 30 and exits submerged into the mercury in the mercury pan.

Agitators radiate from the rotating tube 2 into the mercury pan and gravel and sand are caused to overflow into the trough 39.

It is thought that the construction, operation, utility and advantages of this invention will now be quite apparent to those skilled in this art without a more detailed description thereof.

The present embodiment of the invention has been described in considerable detail merely for the purposes of exemplification since in actual practice it attains the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description.

It will be apparent that changes in theldetails of construction, and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my claim as new is:

1. An amalgamator comprising a vertical, stationary tube having perforations in the lower invention, what 1 end thereof, a second and shorter tube rotatable about the lower end of the stationary tube and being perforated, a mercury pan into which the perforated portions of the tubes extend and terminate adjacent the bottom thereof, an annular flange on the lower end of the stationary tube, and a bearing casing on the rotatable tube surrounding the flange. I

2, An amalgamator comprising a vertical, stationary tube provided with perforations in the lower end thereof, a shorter tube rotatably mounted around the lower portion of the vertical stationary tube and being perforated, and a mercury pan into which the perforated portions of the tubes extend and terminate adjacent the bottom thereof, said pan being provided with radially extending ribs on the inside thereof and a circumferentially extending declining flange on the upper edge thereof across which the said ribs continue.

3. An amalgamator comprising a vertical, stationary tube provided with perforations in the lower end thereof, a shorter tube rotatably mounted around the lower portion of the vertical stationary tube and being perforated, a mercury pan into which the perforated portions of the tubes extend and terminate adjacent the bottom thereof, said pan being provided with radially extending ribs on the inside thereof and a circumferentially extending declining flange on the upper edge thereof across which the said ribs continue, and a cylindrical apron having its upper edge overlapped by the declining flange on the pan and a trough extending around the said apron and under the said flange at the edge of the pan.

ULYSSES H. NOTTINGHAM.

"also 

